Crane

ABSTRACT

A crane including a base that supports telescoping upright members. A boom is pivotally carried on the extendible upright member upwardly. A fluid motor is pivotally connected with the boom and is adapted to to be moved, as a unit, to various heights.

1/1955 Stratton 212/35 R v Umted States Patent 11 1 1111 3,797,675 Moore 5] Mar. 19, 1974 54] CRANE 2.643.779 6/1953 Hamlin 214/1 0 2.851.247 9/1958 H'ld' [761 Invent '5"? -313 g g 'ggg 2,700,483 1/1955 C0011; a1. 214/1 1) a mm 1 a1 Filed Ma 25 1972 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS I y 166.307 2/1959 Sweden 212/46 B [21] Appl. No.: 256,809

I I Primary Examiner-Albert J. Makay 52 us. 01. 214/1 1), 214/86 A, 254/8 B, Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Brown & Martin [51] Int. Cl. .L B65g 7/08 57 S C [58] Field of Search 214/86 A, 1 D; 254/124,

254/8 R, 8 B, 8 C; 212/46 13 35 R crane mcludmg a base tha t supports telescopmg uprlght members. A boom 15 plvotally earned on the ex- [56] Reterences Cited tendible upright memoer upwardly. A fluid motor is 1 I UNITED STATES PATENTS plvtotally codnnected v 1;1t1t1 the Poona en; 15 adapted to 1 I v v 1' 3,521,860 7/1970 Zehrung, Jr. et al. 254/124 X o 8 mo 6 as a um o a mus elg S 6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures CRANE.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION lowering parts of vehicles, for example, engines and transmissions.

2. Description of the Prior Art To applicants knowledge, commercial cranes used in the field are limited to lifting and lowering engines from above the vehicle but do not function as mechanism for lowering and raising engines, transmissions and other elements from the underside of the vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The crane is provided with a boom that is pivotally carried by an upright member that is guided by a lower upright member. The lower upright member that is in the form of a post is carried by a supported base. The base is mounted on swivelled castors. The lower part of the post or, preferably, the base pivotally supports one vention will be apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view of the crane showing the pivoted end in its lowest position in which the opposite end carries a chain;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the pivoted end in an elevated position and showing the opposite end carrying a cradle;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view looking in the direction of DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The crane ,10 includes a base l2 that supports a ho]- low post 14 formed by a pipe. The post forms a guide for an internal upright member in the form ofa capped pipe 16 which is in telescopic relationship with the post. The post 14 can rest on the yoke 18 of the base. Aligned holes 20 and 22 are formed in the post 14, and aligned upper holes 22 andaligned lower holes 24 are formed in the pipe 16. Holes 24 are alignable with the holes 20 in the post 14 for receiving a pin 26 in the post 14 for holding the pipe 16 in its upper position.

The upper end of inner pipe 16 carries a pivot pin 28 in the form of a bolt and a boom 30 is in pivotal relationship with the pin 28. A standard fluid pressure pump 32 is fixed to post 14. A handle 34 is attached to the pump for reciprocating the plunger (not'shown) of the pump.

A fluid motor 36 in the form of a hydraulic motor has the lower end, herein shown as the lower end of the cylinder 38 of the motor, pivotally attached'to the lower portion of the crane 10 by a pivot pin 40. The pin rests in the crotch of a hook 41. The outer end of the ram 42 of the motor 36 is pivotally attached by a pivot pin 44 to the boom 30 intermediate the ends of the boom.

The end 46 of the boom, opposite the pivoted end, carries a downwardly extending chain 48 and the lower end of the chain carries a swivelly supported hook 50. This hook is used for attaching a part of a vehicle, such as the engine for the vehicle. The same end of the boom 30 that carries the chain 48 also supports a platform 52 on the upper side thereof.

If a part of a vehicle, such as the transmission or differencial, is to be removed from the chassis of a vehicle, the inner pipe 16 is maintained in its lower position. Then the crane 10 is rolled to the desired position under the hoisted vehicle. Thereafter, the pump 32 is actuated to force fluid into the lower part of cylinder 38 through a fluid tube 54 to cause the ram 42 to raise the boom 30 to a position in which the cradle is below the mechanism that is to be removed from the chassis of the vehicle. The reverse occurs for lowering the boom. A valve 58 is provided for controlling the flow of fluid to and from the cylinder.

When it is desired to remove, for example, an engine from the chassis of the vehicle, the valve 58 is manipulated to drain the cylinder 38 of the motor 36. Then the pivot pin 40 is removed from the lower part of the cylinder 38 to disconnect the motor 36 from the base. The motor is raised and the pin 40 is then lowered into the crotch of a hook 60 that is fixed to the side of post 14. The holding pin 26 is then removed from holes 20 in the post 14. Next, the pump 32 is actuated to force fluid into the lower part of the cylinder 38 of motor 36 to raise the boom 30 and the inner pipe 16. When the pipe 16 is raised to the desired position, the holding pin is then inserted into the holes 22 of the post. While only one pair of holes 20 and 22 are provided in the post 14, it is to be understood that other similar pairs of holes can be disposed above and below holes 20 and 22, whereby the height of the upright member 16 can be varied.

When the inner pipe 16 is raised to the desired position, the base 12 of the crane is moved to above the chassis of the vehicle. Then, the part of the vehicle which is to be removed, for example, the engine, is suitably hooked to the extended end of the crane by hook 50. The pump 32 is then actuated to raise the boom and that part of the vehicle that is to be removed. The reverse action is conducted to lower the part into the vehicle.

The base 12 is preferably U-shaped including elongated legs 62 that are connected by the yoke 18. The base is supported by swivelling castors 63. The base is hollow and forms a reservoir for the liquid fluid of the hydraulic system.

Referring to FIGS. 4, S and 6, the inner pipe 16 is provided with a cap 64 and upright parallel supports 66 that are welded thereto. The pivot 28 extends transversely through those supports and the flanges 68 of the inverted U-shaped boom 30. The plates carry a pivot pin 70 that is disposed parallelly with and below pin 28. An elongated member 72 in the form of a pipe has one end pivotally attached to the pin 70 and extends toward the free end 46 of the boom 30.

The yoke 73 of the boom ends at 74 to provide a slot 76 adjacent the free end of the boom. An inverted U-shaped support 78 including a a top yoke 80 and two vertically extending legs 82 is pivotally connected between the opposite flange 68 of the boom by a pin 84. The yoke 80 of the U-shaped support 78 extends through the slot 76 and carries two pivot pins 86 for two downwardly extending tongues 88 that project from and are welded to the underside of platform 52. Two oppositely disposed ears 90 are formed integrally with the yoke 80 of the U-shaped support 78 and are threaded to receive screws 92. The screw can be moved to desired adjusted position for adjusting the angle of the platform 52.

As viewed in FIG. 5, the right end 94 of the pipe 72 is threaded, preferably internally, for threaded connection with the threaded left end 96 of a rod 98. A roller 100 is pivotally supported by and between the legs 82 of the U-shaped support 78 below the pivot bolt 84, and the axis thereof is parallel with the axis of bolt 84. Roller 100 is threaded transversely of its axis for threaded relationship with the right threaded end 102 of the rod 98. The right end of rod 98 carries a knob 104 for turning the rod. The threads are of opposite order. For example, the end 96 is a left-hand thread and 102 is a right-hand thread.

For example, by rotating the knob 104 clockwise, the roller 100 will be pulled to the right through threads 102 and pushed to the right by threads 96. This movement causes the U-shaped support 78 to move counterclockwise causing the platform 52 to tilt in one direction. Converse occurs when the knob is turned countercloekwise. The tilting of the platform 52 is highly desirable in that its tilted position complements the bottom of the part of the vehicle which is to be removed from or placed on the vehicle.

As compared with merely one thread, the use of lefthand and right-hand threads, as herein illustrated, doublcs the speed of movement of the roller 100.

It is to be observed that when the boom 30 is in a horizontal position, the axes of the bolt 28 and pin 70 are parallel and vertically aligned and that the axes of bolt 28 and bolt 84 are parallel and lie in the same horizontal plane. Also, the axes of bolt 84 and the roller 100 are parallel and vertically aligned, and that the axes of pin 70 and roller 100 are parallel and lie in the same horizontal plane. By so arranging the axes, a pantographic movement is established whereby the angle of the platform is retained during raising or lowering of the boom. The retaining of the angle of the platform is highly important.

From the foregoing it is apparent that by virtue of the present invention, l have provided a boom that is highly useful for both lifting and lowering parts of a vehicle from positions above and below the chassis of the vehicle. Too, 1 have provided for pantographic movements whereby undesirable tilting of, for example, a boom actuated platform is eliminated. Also, I have provided for expedited movements of parts of the boom by the use of left hand and right hand threaded rods.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A crane comprising in combination:

A. An element for forming an elongated base;

B. Casters for supporting the base;

C. An element forming a post carried adjacent one end of the base;

D. A support for a fluid motor carried by the post above the base;

E. A vertically movable upright member guided by the post;

F. Means for locking the upright member with the post;

G. A boom, said boom extending toward the opposite end of the base;

H. A pivot for supporting the boom on said upright member;

l. A fluid pump including a cylinder means and a ram means, one of said means being adapted to be pivotally supported by said support and adapted to be pivotally connected with one of said elements, the other of saidmeans being pivotally connected with the boom intermediate the ends of the boom;

J. A platform;

K. A support for the platform;

L. A pivot for supporting the support on the boom on an axis parallel with respect to the axis for the pivot for the boom;

M. A roller pivotally connected with the support, said roller being threaded about an axis lying transversely to the axis of the last mentioned pivot;

N. A threaded element forming a screw extending through and in threaded relationship with the threads in the roller, said threaded element being disposed upon turning thereof to move the roller relative to the boom.

2. A crane as defined in claim 1 characterized to include'.

said threaded element extending beyond the end of said boom and terminating in a knob.

3. A crane as defined in claim 1 characterized to include:

means for adjustably inclining said platform about an axis transverse to the axis of said pivot for supporting the support.

4. A crane as defined in claim 1, characterized to inelude:

0. an elongated member pivotally connected adjacent one end thereof with the upright member, said latter elongated member extending toward the opposite boom, said opposite end being threaded;

and further characterized in that said element (N) is in threaded relationship with the threads on the elongated member (0), one of the threads on said element (N) being right handed and the other being left handed.

5. A crane as defined in claim 1, characterized to include:

P. an elongated member;

Q. a pivot for pivotally connecting the elongated member adjacent one end thereof with the upright member;

R. a pivot for connecting the elongated member, ad-

jacent the opposite end thereof, with the support (K), the axes of said pivots (H), (L) and (N) and the axis of the roller being disposed to cooperate to form a pantograph with the upright member (E), the boom (G), the elongated member (P) and the support (K).

6. A crane as defined in claim 5, characterized in that said opposite end of the elongated member is threaded;

and further characterized in that said element (M) is in threaded relationship with the threads on the elongated member (Q), one of said threads on the element (P) being right handed and the other being left handed. 

1. A crane comprising in combination: A. An element for forming an elongated base; B. Casters for supporting the base; C. An element forming a post carried adjacent one end of the base; D. A support for a fluid motor carried by the post above the base; E. A vertically movable upright member guided by the post; F. Means for locking the upright member with the post; G. A boom, said boom extending toward the opposite end of the base; H. A pivot for supporting the boom on said upright member; I. A fluid pump including a cylinder means and a ram means, one of said means being adapted to be pivotally supported by said support and adapted to be pivotally connected with one of said elements, the other of said means being pivotally connected with the boom intermediate the ends of the boom; J. A platform; K. A support for the platform; L. A pivot for supporting the support on the boom on an axis parallel with respect to the axis for the pivot for the boom; M. A roller pivotally connected with the support, said roller being threaded about an axis lying transversely to the axis of the last mentioned pivot; N. A threaded element forming a screw extending through and in threaded relationship with the threads in the roller, said threaded element being disposed upon turning thereof to move the roller relative to the boom.
 2. A crane as defined in claim 1 characterized to include: said threaded element extending beyond the end of said boom and terminating in a knob.
 3. A crane as defined in claim 1 charActerized to include: means for adjustably inclining said platform about an axis transverse to the axis of said pivot for supporting the support.
 4. A crane as defined in claim 1, characterized to include: O. an elongated member pivotally connected adjacent one end thereof with the upright member, said latter elongated member extending toward the opposite boom, said opposite end being threaded; and further characterized in that said element (N) is in threaded relationship with the threads on the elongated member (O), one of the threads on said element (N) being right handed and the other being left handed.
 5. A crane as defined in claim 1, characterized to include: P. an elongated member; Q. a pivot for pivotally connecting the elongated member adjacent one end thereof with the upright member; R. a pivot for connecting the elongated member, adjacent the opposite end thereof, with the support (K), the axes of said pivots (H), (L) and (N) and the axis of the roller being disposed to cooperate to form a pantograph with the upright member (E), the boom (G), the elongated member (P) and the support (K).
 6. A crane as defined in claim 5, characterized in that said opposite end of the elongated member is threaded; and further characterized in that said element (M) is in threaded relationship with the threads on the elongated member (Q), one of said threads on the element (P) being right handed and the other being left handed. 